Bale wrapping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A receiving hopper receives a strapped bale or other rectangular object and swings it into alignment with a passageway. The bale is moved into the passageway while held under compression, wrapping a sheet over the leading edge and two opposed surfaces of the bale. The ends of the wrapping sheet are folded over the trailing edge of the bale and adhered together while the bale is still under compression.

United States Patent [191 Tull, III

[ June 25, 1974 BALE WRAPPING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Herbert G. Tull, III, Charlottesville,

[73] Assignee: Waldorf Corporation, Ramsey County, Minn.

[22] Filed: Aug. 8, 1972 211 App]. No.: 278,774

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser, No. 73,967 Sept. 21,

1970, Pat. N0. 3,70l,314.

[52] US. Cl 53/124 C, 53/124 CC [51] Int. Cl B65b 63/02 [58] Field of Search 53/124 C, 124 CC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,596,43] 8/1971 Davis 53/124 C X 3,619,976 11/1971 Kerker 53/124C Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert M. Dunning; Jerry F. Best [57] ABSTRACT A receiving hopper receives a strapped bale or other rectangular object and swings it into alignment with a passageway. The bale is moved into the passageway while held under compression, wrapping a sheet over the leading edge and two opposed surfaces of the bale. The ends of the wrapping sheet are folded over the trailing edge of the bale and adhered together while the bale is still under compression.

19 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures mmem PATENTEDJUNZSIQH SHEET 1 OF 6 BALE WRAPPING APPARATUS This is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 073,967 filed Sept. 21 1970 for Strapping Apparatus, now US. Pat. No. 3,701,314.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For a great many years bags such as grocery bags and the like have been wrapped in wrapping paper for shipping and storage. This is normally been done by positioning a stack of bags between a fixed plate and a compression plate. These plates are supported at one end only. When the compression plate is moved against the top of the stack of bags, a sheet of wrapping paper is wrapped about the stack of bags as well as the fixed end movable plates. The bags and the wrapper are then slid from the free ends of the plates, and the bags expand to fill the sleeve of wrapping paper which is around them. The wrapping paper usually is somewhat longer than the stack of bags, so that the projecting ends of the sleeve may be taped closed to enclose the bags.

In my above named application, of which this is a continuation in part, the stack of bags was automatically collected and moved to a compression station whereby the stack of bags was subjected to very high compression. While under compression, a pair of straps were threaded around the stack, and the ends of the straps were fastened together to hold the bags in a highly compressed condition. The bale of bags thus formed required perhaps only sixty percent of the space normally occupied by a similar number of bags wrapped in the usual manner. The bales were solid and could readily be stacked on pallets, and the pallets could be readily stacked one upon the other due to the fact that the bales were held under compression. This resulted in a material reduction in shipping cost due to the fact that many more bags could be carried in a railroad car or truck body, and the cost of warehousing the bags prior to use was also greatly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the few objections to the structure lay in the fact that the individual bales of bags were not enclosed and it was possible for some of the bag ends to become soiled if a pallet load of bags was opened and left exposed. Accordingly, the present invention resides to an improvement in wrapping machines which permits the individual bales to be automatically wrapped within a paper sleeve after the bales have been completed. This wrapping apparatus is connected to receive the bales of bags as they leave the baling apparatus, and to apply a strip of wrapping paper about the bags, normally overlying the ends of the bags to prevent soiling of the bag ends prior to use.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for wrapping a strip of wrapping paper about the bag bale normally in right angular relation to the direction in which the baling straps extend about the bale. As a result, the ends of the bags which are outwardly of the straps encircling the bale are confined by the wrapping paper, preventing the ends from fanning out between the straps and the ends of the bags.

Afurther feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus of the type described in which the bales are held under compression during the wrapping operation. During the wrapping operation,

the bags are held compressed by folding compression plates which are hydraulically or pneumatically urged against the bales to keep them compressed while the wrapping paper is being wrapped about the bale, and while the ends of the wrapping paper are adhered together. The wrapped bales thus produced are generally square and regular so that they can be readily stacked and shipped upon pallets.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus indicating diagrammatically the manner in which the baling apparatus is swingable through an angle of 45 to tilt the accumulated bags into a position for transfer into a compression unit and the strapped bale is tilted by a support on the same hopper into a receiving hopper and the wrapping apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the general locations of the various parts.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partly in section, showing the start of the transfer from the receiving hopper to a wrapping position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the floating platen adjoining the receiving hopper.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view, the position of the section being indicated by the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is also a diagrammatic vertical sectional view, the position the section being indicated by the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is another vertical sectional view, the position of the section being indicated by the line 8--8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the strap bale partially through the wrapping apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the means for securing the overlapping ends of the wrapping sheet together.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view showing the upper and lower paper guides.

FIG. 12 is a view of the mechanism indicated in FIG. 11, the position of the view being indicated by the line l2l2 of FIG. I1.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the paper guide mechanism.

FIG. I4 is an elevational view of the paper feed mechanism and the paper cutting mechanism.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of the paper feed and cutting mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view through the paper feed and cutting mechanism, the position of the section being indicated by the line 16-16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of the paper cutting blades.

FIG. 18 is a horizontal sectional view through the lower paper guide, the position of the section being indicated at line I8I8 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In view of the fact that the frame work of the apparatus illustrated tends to conceal much of the operating mechanism, many of the views illustrated are diagrammatic views so that the operation of the apparatus can be understood. The sequence of operation is generally as follows: A bale of bags A is formed by accumulating hands of bags with perhaps 25 bags in each hand. Due to the fact that the closed ends of the bags are thicker than the open ends thereof, the hands of bags are alternated, with the open ends of one half of the hands facing in one direction, and the open ends of the bags of the remaining hands facing in the opposite direction. The stack of bags is highly compressed, and a pair of straps is threaded into stack encircling position, and the ends of these baling straps are secured together while the bags are under compression.

As described in my above identified application, the accumulated bags are forced into a feed hopper while the hopper is in vertical position. The stack is then tilted through a angle of about 45 and transferred while in this tilted position to the compression unit. After the stack has been compressed and the straps applied, the bale is returned to a position behind the hopper which has been tilted back into vertical position. The bale, still in tilted position, is held upon supporting means rearwardly of the vertical hopper. Accordingly, when the hopper is again tilted through an angle of 45, the bale is delivered to the receiving hopper of the wrapping apparatus. The receiving hopper is swung through an angle of 90 and forms the inlet end of the wrapping machine. Thus in traveling through the wrapping machine, the bags are completely inverted from the position in which they were originally accumulated.

Means are provided for applying pressure to the bale to hold the bale compressed. Means are provided for moving the bales laterally between a series of plates which maintain the bales under compression. A sheet of wrapping paper is feed downwardly to a position forwardly of the bale, and as the bale is moved, the sheet is wrapped about the leading edge of the bale, as well as the top and bottom walls thereof. The sheet is cut off, and as the trailing edge of the bale passes the paper feed guides, the end of the sheet extending over the top of the bale is folded downwardly. Glue is applied to the trailing edge of the sheet extending over the bottom of the bale and this end of the sheet is folded upwardly and the two ends are adhered together. The action is then repeated, the bales moving one after another between the compression plates until they leave the wrapper.

The structure on the left hand side of FIG. 1 of the drawings is a portion of the apparatus described in my application for patent above referred to. The apparatus includes a frame which is generally indicated by the numeral and includes legs such as 11 and 12 and a cross member indicated at 13. Brackets 14 extend downwardly from the cross member 13 and support a pivot 15 which supports a pair of connected plates 16, one of which is shown in the Figure. The plates 16 support a hopper 17 in which the hands of bags are accumulated. The arms or plates 16 supporting the hopper 17 are capable of pivoting the hopper 17 from the vertical position indicated through an angle of 45 to the vertical in a clockwise direction. When in this tilted position, the stack of bags is transferred by means not illustrated in the drawings in a lateral direction to a compression station where the bags are compreseed and strapped. During this time, the hopper is returned to vertical position and upon return of the strapped bale to a position behind the hopper, the lower comer of the bale, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1, rests upon supports 19 and 20 supported by the plates 16. When the plates 16 again swing the hopper 17 through an angle of 45 in a clockwise direction, the bale A is swung onto a receiving hopper for the wrapping apparatus the receiving hopper being indicated in general by the numeral 21. The hopper 21 includes a side plate 22 which is horizontal in the receiving position of the receiving hopper and is substantially aligned with the supports 20 on the main hopper supporting plates 16. Bottom cross members 23 and 23' are supported in right angular relation to the side plate 22. The side plate 22 and bottom cross members 23 are supported by supporting arms 24 pivotally supported at 25 to a bracket 26 mounted at an end of the cross member 13 of the frame. A cylinder 27 is hingedly connected to a cross member 28 on the frame by a pivot 29. The cylinder 27 includes a piston, not illustrated, which includes a piston rod 30 hingedly connected to the arms 24 by a pivot 31. By expansion of the cylinder piston device 27, 30, the arms 24 may be swung about the pivots 25 through so that the side plates 22 extend vertically and the bottom cross members 23 extend horizonally as indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 1.

An upper movable platen 32 is pivotally connected to the frame at 33 and is swingable down over the bale A. A cylinder 34 is hingedly connected to the frame at 35 and includes a piston (not illustrated) connected by a connecting rod 36 to the movable platen as indicated at 37. Thus when the bale A has been swung down into position for passing through the wrapping apparatus, the top of the bale is confined.

With reference now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the receiving hopper 21 includes a bottom compression plate 40 which is hingedly connected to a cross member 23 by hinge 41. A bracket 42 is secured to a second cross member which may be indicated at 23 and includes an offset end 43 hingedly connected at 44 to a cylinder 45. The cylinder 45 includes a piston (not illustrated) having a piston rod 46 hingedly connected to a bracket 47 on the bottom compression plate 40. While certain of the cylinders which have been mentioned may, if desired, be operated by hydraulic fluid, the cylinders such as 34 which urge the upper platen 32 against the top of the bale, and the compression cylinder such as 45 urging the bottom plate upwardly against the bale, are air actuated so that the parts may be forced against the bale with a predetermined pressure, and may compensate for varying thicknesses in the bale. By way of explanation, it might be stated that FIG. 3 is taken from the side of the machine nearest the baling apparatus because of the fact that it more clearly illustrates the structure. The plate 40 is relatively thin as compared with the adjoining compression plate 49, and when the receiving hopper is in its feeding position illustrated in FIG. 3, the forward edge of the plate 40 rests upon a shoulder 50 fomied as notched in the edge of the compression plate 49. This insures the fact that the compression plate 49 will not be above the level of the plate 40 during the feeding operation.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the frame of the wrapping apparatus, which is indicated in general by the numeral 51 includes a suitable uprights 52 which support longitudinally extending spaced parallel frame members 53. With reference now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that elongated cylinder 54 is supported by certain of the vertical frame members 52. The cyliner 54 includes a piston (not illustrated) which is connected to a piston rod 56. A pair of slide guide rods 57 are mounted between a pair of the frame uprights 52 in parallel relation to the movement of the piston rod 56 and above and below the same. A crosshead 59 including a pair of slides 60 and 61 connected by a connecting member 62 is slidable on the slide rods 57 'upon movement of the piston rod 56 into or out of the cylinder 54. The crosshead 59 supports a pusher plate 63 (FIG. 3) which is designed to advance the bale through the wrapping operation. The arrangement is such that after the advancement of the bale to complete the wrapping operation, the pusher plate 63 is retracted prior to the time when another bale is delivered into position by the receiving hopper 21.

With reference back to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the pressure plate 49 may rest upon a cross member 65 extending across the frame and is urged upwardly against the bale by a cylinder 66 supported by a bracket 67 similar to the previously described bracket 42 and depending from the cross member 65. Thus the plate 49 is urged upwardly by the piston and a cylinder 66 which is connected to a bracket 69 on the under surface of the plate 49. This bracket may be seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings. It will also be noted that the edge of the plate 49 opposite that supporting the hopper plate 40 is provided with spaced notches 70 accommodating the lower paper guides which will be described.

With reference now to FIGS. 2, l1, l2, l3 and 18 of the drawings, the paper guides which guide the strip of wrapping paper in the path of movement of the bale A is illustrated. The upper paper guides are fixed and, as indicated in FIG. 12 of the drawings, include a series of vertical parallel strips 71 which form a guide for each side of the paper. FIG. 12 shows one series of strips 71 anchored to cross members 72 connected to angle iron frame members 73 and a cross member 74 connected to a frame member 53 and upright frame member 52. As indicated in FIG. 11, each guide includes a strip 71 and opposed spaced strip 71' the paper being designed to extend between these strips.

The lower paper guide which is indicated in general by the number 76 also includes pairs of vertical bars 77 which are held in parallel spaced relation by upper and lower brackets 79. As indicated in FIG. 13 of the drawings, the series of guide bars 77 are secured to one side 80 of the brackets 79, while opposed bars 77' are attached to the opposite side of the frame 80'. The frame sides 80 and 80' are connected by end portions 81 which are located outwardly of the edges of the wrapping paper sheet.

As indicated in FIG. 12, upper guides 82 and 83 are attached to the horizontal frame members 84 and 53 respectively, while the lower guides 85 are connected to a vertical frame members 52. The upper guide 82 is directly connected to the angle member 84 which forms a part of the frame, while the upper guide 83 is connected to the frame member 53 through a suitable spacer 88. The inner opposed ends of the guides are shaped as best illustrated in FIG. 18 of the drawings. The inner ends of the guides are bifurcated to provide relatively side slots 85' within which the outmost pairs of guide rods 77, 77 are slidable. This relatively wide slot 85' communicates with a somewhat narrower slot 85' in each guide so as to accommodate the edge of the paper sheet. Thus these spaced guide rods are supported for vertical reciprocal movement. In their uppermost position indicated in full lines in FIG. 11 of the drawings, they extend closely adjacent to the lower ends of the upper fixed guides 71, 71 and in their lowered position extend just below the level of the upper surface of the plate 49 through which they may extend because of the notches 70.

The lower paper guides are reciprocated by a piston (not illustrated) in a cylinder hingedly connected at 91 to a bracket 92 on the frame. A piston rod 93 is hingedly connected to a bracket 94 on the upper guide supporting bracket 79. When in their raised position, the lower movable paper guide members are aligned with the upper paper guide members, and a sheet of paper may be fed vertically by means which will be described to extend above and below the path of movement of the bale A. When the paper is in place, the lower guides are lowered below the path of movement of the bale.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the discharge end of the hopper plate 40 and a portion of the upper platen 32. FIG. 7 of the drawings at a position just beyond the paper feed location and shows a top guide plate 95 and a floating bottom plate 96. As indicated in FIG. 7, a cross member 97 extends transversely beneath the floating plate 96 and supports downwardly extending laterally spaced brackets 99, the lower ends of which are connected to cylinders 100 having piston rods 101 pivotally attached to brackets 102 near opposite sides of the floating plate 96. The position of these brackets 102 is indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. A shaft 103 extends transversely beneath the plate 96 and is supported by frame supported bearings 104. Links 105 are secured to the shaft 103 and are pivotally supported by brackets 106 mounted near opposite sides of the plate 96. The shaft 103 acts as a torsion bar to insure the downward movement of both sides of the plate evenly.

With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that longitudinally spaced brackets 109, 110 and 111 extend downwardly from spaced cross members 112 and support longitudinally spaced cylinders 113, 114 and 115, the pistons of which are connected by connecting rods 116, 117 and 119 to the under surface of the plate 96 to urge the plate upwardly throughout its length.

With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, a bearing plate 120 extends between opposed frame members adjoining the fixed upper paper guides 71. A folding bar 121 is supported by a pair of rods 122 connected by a cross member 123. A cylinder 124 is pivotally supported to a fixed bracket 125 on a frame cross member 126 and the piston rod 127 is connected at its lower end to a boss 129 at the center of the connecting member 123. By actuating the cylinder 124, the folding bar 121 may be lowered into the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 11 of the drawings, folding the end of the sheet which extends over the top of the bale downwardly along the rear of the bale.

A glue applicator arm extends vertically adjoining the paper guides and has an upwardly and inwardly inclined end 131 which is pivotally connected at 132 to the center of the cross member 126. A cylinder 133 is hingedly connected at its upper end to a frame bracket 134 and the piston rod 135 of the cylinder is pivotally connected at 136 to a bracket 137 on the arm 130 adjoining its junction with the upper arm portion 131. The arm 130 extends through a slot in the bearing plate 120 and supports a glue head 139 at its lower end as the glue head 139 is swung across the wrapping paper at the trailing edge of the bale, glue is sprayed out on the paper. The glue may be cut off during the return stroke.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that the edges of the pressure plates 49 and 96 are connected by bars 140 so as to maintain these plates at a common level. These bars are notched as indicated at 141 to accommodate the edges of the paper web, and include uprights 142. Paper folding blade 143 is supported between the notched edge of the plate 49 and the adjoining end of the pressure plate 96. The blade 143 is provided with bale centering uprights 144 at opposite ends of the blade, and pivots 145 pivotally connect the uprights 142 on the bars 140 and the uprights 144 on the ends of the folding blade 143.

A lever arm 146 is secured to the under surface of the folding blade 143 and inclines downwardly therefrom. The lower end of the arm 146 is pivotally connected at 147 to a piston rod 149 which is connected to a piston (not illustrated) in the cylinder 150. The opposite end of the cylinder 150 is pivotally attached at 151 to a bracket 1S2 extending downwardly from the pressure plate 96. By expanding the piston rod cylinder device 149, 150, the folding blade 143 is swung upwardly through an angle of approximately 90 in order to fold the end of the adhesively coated wrapping sheet extending beneath the bale upwardly against the end of the wrapping sheet which extends over the bale.

The manner in which the wrapping paper is fed and cut is illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 17 of the drawings. The apparatus is mounted between a pair of spaced mounting blocks 154 mounted upon the upper longitudinally extending frame members 73. A first feed roller 155 is mounted upon a shaft 156 supported by bearings 157 in the blocks 154. A rectangular notch 159 extends into each block 154 in opposed relation to the feed roller 155. A bearing block 160 is slidably supported in each notch 159, each bearing block supporting a bearing 161 which in turn supports a second feed roller shaft 162. The shaft 162 supports a second feed roller 163 similar to the feed roller 155 and in opposed relation thereto. The shafts 156 and 162 are connected by gears such as 166. The roller 163 is urged against the roller 155 by springs 164 mounted in opposed sockets 165 in the bearing blocks 160 and in the opposed surfaces of bars 167 bolted or otherwise secured to the block 154 by bolts 168 shown in FIG. 14, the bars extending over the open ends of the notches 159.

A shaft 169 is pivotally supported by the bars 167 in parallel relation to the feed roll axes. The shaft 169 is provided with eccentric end portions 170 which are connected by links 172 to pivot bolts 173 on the bearing blocks 160. An arm 174 is supported by the shaft 169 and serves as a means of manually pivoting the shaft 169. On swinging the arm 174 the shaft 169 is pivoted and the eccentrics 170 act through the links 172 to move the bearing blocks to the left as indicated in FIGS. 15 and 16, compressing the springs 164. The purpose of this arrangement is to separate the feed rollers 155 and 163 temporarily during the threading of the wrapping paper between these feed rollers.

A pair of transverse connecting members 175 which can, alternatively, comprise a single transverse member having a slot throughout the major portion of its length, is secured in grooves 176 in the blocks 154. These transverse members 175 support a pair of spaced stripper blades 177 in spaced relation. As indicated in FIG. 14, the feed rollers 163 and 155 are peripherally grooved as indicated at the 179. The stripper blades 177 have upwardly projecting fingers 180 which extend into the grooves 179 so as to terminate beneath the surfaces of the feed rollers. These stripper blades 177 thus guide the paper web P which passes over the the feed roller 155 between the stripper blades, through the cutting apparatus which will be described, and to the flared ends 181 of the fixed paper guides 71 and 71'.

The paper cutting mechanism includes a fixed blade 182 and a movable blade 183 slideably supported by bearing plates 184 at opposite ends of the blade. The movable blade is indicated in FIG. 17 of the drawings while the fixed blade 182 is shown in broken lines to indicate the relationship therebetween. The movable blade has a shallow V-shaped cutting edge 185 which is cooperable with the straight edge 186 of the fixed blade to provide a shearing action which shears the wrapping paper from opposite side edges thereof to the center of the movable blade. The movable blade 183 includes right angularly extending end bearing portions 187 designed to slide between the fixed blade 182 and the bearing plates 184. The upper and lower surfaces of the end portions 187 are provided with oil grooves 188 for lubricating purposes. The blade support 184 is held in proper relation to the movable blade by adjustment bolts 189 extending through fixed brackets 190 on the blocks 154. Links 191 are pivotally connected to the end extremeties 192 of the blade ends 187, and the ends of the links 191 are secured to a torsion bar 193 pivotally supported in sockets 194 in the brackets 190.

A cylinder 195 is supported by a bracket 196 on a cross member 175, and includes a piston rod 198 secured to a lug 197 extending downwardly from the movable blade 183. The movable blade is reciprocated through the short distance necessary to cut the paper web by the piston in the cylinder 195. A paper feed motor 199 (FIG. 2) mounted between the frame members 73 and a motor sprocket 200 is connected by a chain 201 to a sprocket 202 (FIG. 14) on the shaft 156 of the feed roller 155.

In operation, the bale is transferred into position to be wrapped in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The strapped bale A is held inclined at an angle of 45 by the supports 19 and 20 mounted on the plates 16 supporting the accumulating hopper. As the plates 16 are pivoted through an angle of 45, the bale is transferred to the receiving hopper 21, the bodies of the bags extending vertically. The hopper 21 is pivoted through an angle of 90 by actuation of the cylinder 27, swinging the bags into alignment with the wrapping machine, the flat bodies of the bags then being horizontal. The upper platen 32 is swung down over the bale Aby the cylinder 34, and the bale is compressed as indicated in FIG. 6 by the plate 40 forming a part of the receiving hopper, the bags being compressed against the upper platen 32.

After the bale has been received in the hopper 21 the lower paper feed guides 77 and 77 are lowered by the cylinder 90 out of the path of movement of the bale,

the paper having been previously fed through the.

guides at the end of the former cycle, leaving the wrapping paper P in the path of movement of the bale. The folding rod 121 is raised by the cylinder 124 to a position where it is held against the bearing plate 120, and the folding blade 143 is pivoted down by the cylinder 150 into the plane of the pressure plate 49 and 46.

The piston in the elongated cylinder 54 is then actuated to retract the piston rod 56 and move the pusher plate 63 to the right, the bale engaging the wrapping sheet P so that the portion of the wrapping sheet extends above the bale and another portion extends beneath the bale. As tension on the wrapping sheet begins, the cutting blade cylinder 195 is actuated cutting the paper web from its source of supply, not illustrated in the drawings. The bale is advanced as indicated in FIG. 9 of the drawings, drawing the paper downwardly through the upper fixed guides 71, 71 and upwardly from the movable paper guides 77, 77'.

The movement of the bale continues until the trailing edge of the bale passes the folding rod 121 and the folding blade 143. The pusher plate 63 then starts its retracting movement, and the cylinder 124 (FIG. 11) is actuated to lower the folding bar 121, folding the trailing edge of that portion of the wrapping sheet, which has passed over the top of the bale, over the trailing edge of the bale. The glue applicator arm is then swung by the cylinder 133 from the solid line position shown in FIG. 12 to the dotted line position thereof, and the glue head 139 functions to spray adhesive downwardly against the upper exposed surface of that portion of the strip which has not been folded up by the folding blade 143. The folding blade 143 is then pivoted upwardly by the cylinder 150 to fold the end of the strip of paper extending beneath the bale upwardly against the surface of the strip which was previously folded down by the folding bar l2l, sealing the ends of the wrapping sheet together.

The upper platen 32 is swung upwardly into the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 by the cylinder 34, the receiving hopper 21 is returned to its initial position by. cylinder 27, and the lower paper guides 77, 77' are raised into paper receiving position by the cylinder 90, and the apparatus is set for the delivery of the paper P. The motor ll99 is operated to rotate the feed rollers 155, 163 to feed a strip of paper of sufficient length to wrap the bale between the cutter blades 182 and 183. And the machine is set for a new cycle of operation.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in BALE WRAPPING APPARA- TUS; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

l claim:

1. A bale wrapping apparatus including:

an elongated passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end:

means guiding a strip of wrapping material across said passageway between said inlet and said outlet end,

means adapted to move the bale from the inlet end of the passageway to the outlet end thereof, wrapping said wrapping material over the leading end and two opposed surfaces of the bale,

means for adhering the ends of the strip together,

the inlet end of the passage comprising a receiving hopper pivotally supported on an axis parallel to the axis of the passageway.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including means forming a wall of said elongated passageway at the inlet end thereof movably supported into and out of the movement of said hopper.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means forming a wall of said elongated passageway comprises a platen.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means forming a wall of said elongated passage comprises a hingedly supported platen.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said strip guiding means includes fixed guides on one side of said passageway, and movable guides movably supported for movement across said passageway into close proximity with said fixed guides to receive the paper strip therefrom.

6. The structure of claim 1 and including means for feeding said strip from a supply web, and means for cutting said web to provide a strip of proper length to encircle the bale.

7. The structure of claim 1 and in which said outlet end of said passageway includes a fixed guide plate means adapted to engage one of said opposite sides of said bale, and a floating guide plate means adapted to be urged against the other of said opposite sides of said bale.

8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said floating guide plate means is pneumatically urged toward bale engaging position.

9. A bale wrapping apparatus including:

an elongated bale passageway including an inlet end an an outlet end,

means for guiding a wrapping paper strip vertically downwardly between said inlet end and said outlet end,

said passageway including an upper surface plate which is fixed during movement of a bale therethrough,

floating plate means forming the lower surface of said passageway,

pneumatic cylinders resiliently urging said floating plate means upwardly and adapted to apply compression to the bale,

means adapted to move a bale from the inlet end of said passageway toward the outlet end thereof, whereby movement of the bale acts to wrap said strip across the leading edge of the bale and over the top and bottom surfaces thereof, the ends of said strip trailing behind the bale,

means adapted for applying adhesive to one end of said strip, and

means adapted for folding the ends of said strip into face contact.

10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said guide means for said strip include upper fixed guide means above said passageway, and lower guide means supported for vertical movement toward and away from said fixed guide means, whereby in raised position said lower guide means may receive the strip from said upper guide means and in lowered position said lower guide means is below said passageway, and means for moving said lower guide means.

11. The structure of claim 10 and including feed means for feeding said strip through said guide means, and paper cutting means for cutting said strip from a web of paper.

12. The structure of claim 9 and in which said strip folding means includes a folding bar, and means for vertically reciprocating said folding bar from a position above said passageway to a position spaced from said floating plate means.

13. The structure of claim 12 and in which said strip folding means also includes a folding blade supported by said flotating plate means on a transverse axis closely adjacent to the position at which the trailing edge of the bale is adapted to be moved by said bale moving means and pivotal upwardly to a substantially vertical position and adapted to fold the end of the strip portion extending beneath the bale into face contact with the end of the strip portion extending over the bale.

14. The structure of claim 9 and in which which said means adapted for applying adhesive includes an arm pivotally supported for movement transversely of said passageway at a point above said passageway, and a glue dispensing head supported at the lower end of said arm.

15. The structure of claim 9 and including paper cutting means for cutting said strip from a paper web, said cutting means including a fixed blade having a straight cutting edge, and a movable blade cooperable with said fixed blade, said movable blade having a generally V- shaped cutting edge, said strip extending between said blades, and

means for moving said movable blade.

16. The structure of claim 10 and in which said paper guide means comprise a plurality of pairs of parallel spaced rods between which said strip extends.

17. A bale wrapping apparatus including:

an elongated passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end,

means guiding a strip of wrapping material across said passageway between said inlet end and said outlet end,

means adapted to apply pressure against opposite sides of said bale.

means adapted to move the bale from said inlet end of said passageway to the outlet end thereof, wrapping said wrapping material over the leading end and two opposed surfaces of the bale.

means adapted to apply adhesive to an end of the strip,

means adapted to fold the strip ends into face contact, and

said inlet end of said passageway comprising a receiving hopper pivotally supported on an axis parallel to the axis of said said passageway.

18. The structure of claim 17 and in which said means adapted to apply pressure at the inlet end of said passageway includes a platen supported for movement toward and away from said hopper when in said pivotal position thereof.

19. A bale wrapping apparatus including:

an elongated bale passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end,

means for guiding a wrapping paper strip vertically downwardly between said inlet end and said outlet end,

said passageway including an upper surface plate which is fixed during movement of a bale therethrough,

floating plate means forming the lower surface of said passageway,

pneumatic cylinders resiliently urging said floating plate means upwardly and to apply compression to the bale,

means adapted to move a bale from the inlet end of said passageway toward the outlet end thereof, whereby movement of the bale acts to wrap said strip across the leading edge of the bale and over the top and bottom surfaces thereof, the ends of the strip trailing behind the bale,

means for applying adhesive to one end of the strip,

means adapted for folding the ends of said strip into surface contact, and

said inlet end of said passageway including a pivoted section comprising a receiving hopper including a floating plate member engaging the bottom of the bale, and a platen movable toward and away from the floating plate member when aligned with the remainder of the floating plate to form the fixed upper surface plate for the inlet end of the passageway. 

1. A bale wrapping apparatus including: an elongated passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end: means guiding a strip of wrapping material across said passageway between said inlet and said outlet end, means adapted to move the bale from the inlet end of the passageway to the outlet end thereof, wrapping said wrapping material over the leading end and two opposed surfaces of the bale, means for adhering the ends of the strip together, the inlet end of the passagE comprising a receiving hopper pivotally supported on an axis parallel to the axis of the passageway.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and including means forming a wall of said elongated passageway at the inlet end thereof movably supported into and out of the movement of said hopper.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means forming a wall of said elongated passageway comprises a platen.
 4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means forming a wall of said elongated passage comprises a hingedly supported platen.
 5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said strip guiding means includes fixed guides on one side of said passageway, and movable guides movably supported for movement across said passageway into close proximity with said fixed guides to receive the paper strip therefrom.
 6. The structure of claim 1 and including means for feeding said strip from a supply web, and means for cutting said web to provide a strip of proper length to encircle the bale.
 7. The structure of claim 1 and in which said outlet end of said passageway includes a fixed guide plate means adapted to engage one of said opposite sides of said bale, and a floating guide plate means adapted to be urged against the other of said opposite sides of said bale.
 8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said floating guide plate means is pneumatically urged toward bale engaging position.
 9. A bale wrapping apparatus including: an elongated bale passageway including an inlet end an an outlet end, means for guiding a wrapping paper strip vertically downwardly between said inlet end and said outlet end, said passageway including an upper surface plate which is fixed during movement of a bale therethrough, floating plate means forming the lower surface of said passageway, pneumatic cylinders resiliently urging said floating plate means upwardly and adapted to apply compression to the bale, means adapted to move a bale from the inlet end of said passageway toward the outlet end thereof, whereby movement of the bale acts to wrap said strip across the leading edge of the bale and over the top and bottom surfaces thereof, the ends of said strip trailing behind the bale, means adapted for applying adhesive to one end of said strip, and means adapted for folding the ends of said strip into face contact.
 10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said guide means for said strip include upper fixed guide means above said passageway, and lower guide means supported for vertical movement toward and away from said fixed guide means, whereby in raised position said lower guide means may receive the strip from said upper guide means and in lowered position said lower guide means is below said passageway, and means for moving said lower guide means.
 11. The structure of claim 10 and including feed means for feeding said strip through said guide means, and paper cutting means for cutting said strip from a web of paper.
 12. The structure of claim 9 and in which said strip folding means includes a folding bar, and means for vertically reciprocating said folding bar from a position above said passageway to a position spaced from said floating plate means.
 13. The structure of claim 12 and in which said strip folding means also includes a folding blade supported by said flotating plate means on a transverse axis closely adjacent to the position at which the trailing edge of the bale is adapted to be moved by said bale moving means and pivotal upwardly to a substantially vertical position and adapted to fold the end of the strip portion extending beneath the bale into face contact with the end of the strip portion extending over the bale.
 14. The structure of claim 9 and in which which said means adapted for applying adhesive includes an arm pivotally supported for movement transversely of said passageway at a point above said passageway, and a glue dispensing head supported at the lower end of said arm.
 15. The structure of claim 9 and inCluding paper cutting means for cutting said strip from a paper web, said cutting means including a fixed blade having a straight cutting edge, and a movable blade cooperable with said fixed blade, said movable blade having a generally V-shaped cutting edge, said strip extending between said blades, and means for moving said movable blade.
 16. The structure of claim 10 and in which said paper guide means comprise a plurality of pairs of parallel spaced rods between which said strip extends.
 17. A bale wrapping apparatus including: an elongated passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end, means guiding a strip of wrapping material across said passageway between said inlet end and said outlet end, means adapted to apply pressure against opposite sides of said bale. means adapted to move the bale from said inlet end of said passageway to the outlet end thereof, wrapping said wrapping material over the leading end and two opposed surfaces of the bale. means adapted to apply adhesive to an end of the strip, means adapted to fold the strip ends into face contact, and said inlet end of said passageway comprising a receiving hopper pivotally supported on an axis parallel to the axis of said said passageway.
 18. The structure of claim 17 and in which said means adapted to apply pressure at the inlet end of said passageway includes a platen supported for movement toward and away from said hopper when in said pivotal position thereof.
 19. A bale wrapping apparatus including: an elongated bale passageway including an inlet end and an outlet end, means for guiding a wrapping paper strip vertically downwardly between said inlet end and said outlet end, said passageway including an upper surface plate which is fixed during movement of a bale therethrough, floating plate means forming the lower surface of said passageway, pneumatic cylinders resiliently urging said floating plate means upwardly and to apply compression to the bale, means adapted to move a bale from the inlet end of said passageway toward the outlet end thereof, whereby movement of the bale acts to wrap said strip across the leading edge of the bale and over the top and bottom surfaces thereof, the ends of the strip trailing behind the bale, means for applying adhesive to one end of the strip, means adapted for folding the ends of said strip into surface contact, and said inlet end of said passageway including a pivoted section comprising a receiving hopper including a floating plate member engaging the bottom of the bale, and a platen movable toward and away from the floating plate member when aligned with the remainder of the floating plate to form the fixed upper surface plate for the inlet end of the passageway. 